“It has had that effect on some men,” says director Lee Unkrich, unable to resist a grin.

The third (and reportedly final) instalment in the Disney-Pixar franchise, Toy Story 3 hits an emotional nerve.

“The film deals with themes of childhood moving to adulthood, and I think that’s a hot button for a lot of people,” says Lee.

Fans have been waiting a long time to see the film – it has taken 11 years to reach the screen. Even the film’s leading men, Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, got impatient.

“They are very proud to be a part of creating Woody and Buzz Lightyear and they love playing them, so it was really a joy for them to be in the recording studio again,” says Lee.

One of the new characters is Ken, voiced by Michael Keaton. With his pin-up looks and an enviable closet full of different outfits and matching accessories, this metrosexual doll – who features in the Toy Story ‘love story’ with Barbie – provides laughs throughout the film.

“All the outfits he wears are real Ken outfits. We had so much fun dressing him, thinking he would be vain and would change outfits every single day,” says Lee.

Other new toys in the film include the glittery, purple octopus Stretch (Whoopi Goldberg), Mr Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton), Trixie (Flight Of The Conchords’ Kristen Schaal) and Buttercup (Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Jeff Garlin).

Since opening the film has already taken $363 million at the box office, and both Hanks and Allen are said to be keen on a fourth instalment.

“We are looking for ways to keep the Toy Story characters alive,” says Lee. “We do still want them to be in the world. We are doing a short film featuring everybody, which will be coming out next year in front of Cars 2.”